The Ijaw Freedom Fighters (IFF) has given the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the Oba of Benin a 21 days ultimatum to apologize to the Pere of Olodiama Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Godwin Ogunyebo (Alagbabunafa) and the entire Ijaw nation for describing Olodiama kingdom as a non-existent kingdom. A statement by IFF Spokesperson, Commander Keme Boudiwei and Commander Seimokoromor Anthony (Leader) made available to GbaramatuVoice shortly after their emergency meeting in Rivers state yesterday by the leadership of the group from Edo, Bayelsa, Edo, Ondo, Delta and Akwa-Ibom states.

According to them, the group has watched with total dismay the oppression of the Olodiama Kingdom by the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki all in an effort to please the Oba of Benin. In his words, “The Ijaw Freedom Fighters with a membership of over 2,000 fighters have watched with total dismay the oppression of the Olodiama Kingdom by the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki all in an effort to please the Oba of Benin.” This, he further stated, have compelled them to demand from the Governor of Edo state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the Oba of Benin to tender an unreserved apology to the Pere of the Olodiama Kingdom and the entire Ijaw nation for calling the Olodiama Kingdom non-existent kingdom within 21days. Failure to do so he added, will lead to all Ijaw Freedom Fighters to storm Edo State Government House and Oba of Benin palace.

To further buttress their position on the oppressive tendencies of the governor, the Ijaw Freedom Fighters pointed out that just on Tuesday December 5, 2017 the Edo state Government constituted the Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers without including the five Ijaw kingdoms in Edo state. “With this act, the Edo State Governor and the Oba of Benin have declared war on the entire Ijaw nation and we will lead all Ijaw Youths to Edo State Government House at the expiration of the 21 days if he fails to do so,“ the group added. To this effect, the group called on all oil companies and organizations operating in Ijaw territories in Edo state to stop dealing with the Oba of Benin and Edo State Government with immediate effect as failure to do so will lead to total disaster. Commander Keme Boudiwei, therefore, called on President Buhari to call on Obaseki and the Oba to order before the expiration of the 21 days while adding that Ijaw nation can no longer stomach this oppression anymore.

The statement reads in part: “That the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obseki and the Oba of Benin should immediately apologize to the Pere of Olodiama Kingdom and the entire Ijaw nation for calling the Olodiama Kingdom “non-existent kingdom” within 21days. Failure to do that will lead to all Ijaw Freedom Fighters to storm Edo State Government House and Oba of Benin palace.

“Yesterday (Tuesday December 5, 2017) the Edo State Government constituted Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers without including the five Ijaw kingdoms in Edo State. With this act, the Edo State Governor and the Oba of Benin have declared war on the entire Ijaw nation and we will lead all Ijaw Youths to Edo State Government at the expiration of the 21 days if you fail to do so. We demand within 21 days to include all Ijaw Traditional Rulers in the Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers. “We demand all oil companies, organizations operating in Ijaw territories in Edo State to stop dealing with the Oba of Benin and Edo State Government with immediate effect. Failure to do that will lead to total disaster”.

“We repeat, we are giving Edo State Government 21 days to correct all abnormalities or else we will mobilize all our members from the aforementioned states to storm the Edo State Government House and the Oba of Benin palace to make the state unbearable for you to govern”.

“We call on President Buhari to call on Obaseki and the Oba to order before the expiration of the 21 days”.